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Community Paramedicine Grab Bar Installations Decreased Emergency Calls in Older Adults With Previous Fall History
Elizabeth Sheridan1, Jessica M Wiseman1, Catherine C Quatman-Yates2,3,4,5
1Division of Trauma, Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Background:
Home modifications are an evidence-based fall prevention strategy, though critical barriers often limit their implementation by individuals at risk for falls. This study assessed the impact of community paramedicine-installed grab bars on emergency medical service (EMS) activations among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods:
Data were accrued for grab bar installations delivered by a single community paramedicine program from September 2018 to August 2023. Study inclusion was limited to community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 who received grab bars placed within their household and with at least one EMS activation in the 12 months prior to receipt of grab bars. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test compared activations in the 12 months before and after the installation for all-cause activations and fall-related activations.
Results:
A total of 389 grab bar recipients met inclusion criteria (57% female, 99% white, mean age 81). All-cause EMS activations showed no significant reduction post-installation. Fall-related EMS activations decreased from a mean of 1.52 to 0.83 activations per person (mean difference: 0.68 calls; 95% CI:[0.23, 1.13]), representing a 45% reduction.
Conclusions:
Grab bar installations provided by community paramedics to community-dwelling older adults with a prior fall resulted in a significant reduction in fall-related EMS activations. This prevention approach demonstrates high potential for community paramedicine to offer an evidence-based intervention targeting at-risk older adults.
